Apple Launches New iPod with Camera

Apple has launched the new line-up of world’s famous portable music player iPod Nano, and by continuing further with its innovations, it has added a built-in camera, mic and speaker to these new models of iPod Nano.

The new iPod Nano will enable you to shoot videos and you can easily share them using YouTube, it also has a FM radio on it, and has a new thin design, a display of 2.2 inches and available with polished aluminum and glass enclosure in nine different colors. These new iPod Nano models are available in 8GB and 16GB models, the price will be $149 and $179 respectively
Well, Apple has not introduced any new technology with this product, instead it has added some advanced and attractive features with it, you can also visit: iPod Nano Homepage

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Judge Stays Microsoft Word Ban

Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) can continue to sell its Word document processing application until an appellate court hears the company's appeal of an earlier ruling that found the product violates the patent of a Canadian software maker.

The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday effectively stayed a lower court's ban on Word sales that would be effective in mid-October if upheld. Microsoft's appeal is slated for Sept. 23.
Microsoft Office, which includes Word, accounted for more than $3 billion in worldwide sales in Microsoft's most recent fiscal year and is used by literally millions of businesses and consumers for everyday tasks like word processing and creating spreadsheets and presentations.

Judge Leonard Davis, of U.S. District Court for Eastern Texas, ruled in August that Microsoft "unlawfully infringed" on a patent that describes how programs go about "manipulating a document's content and architecture separately." The patent, No. 5,787,449, is held by Toronto-based i4i, Inc. i4i develops "collaborative content solutions," according to its Web site.

i4i originally sued Microsoft for patent infringement in 2007.

Davis ordered Microsoft to pay $240 million in damages to i4i, plus court costs and interest. More significantly, he enjoined Microsoft from continuing to sell Microsoft Word, in its current form, in the U.S.

Specifically, Davis said Microsoft can't sell versions of Word that can open documents saved in the .XML, .DOCX, or .DOCM formats that contain custom XML. Those formats were at the heart of the patent dispute. .DOCX is the default format for the most current version of Word, which is included in Microsoft Office 2007. Custom XML is used by businesses to link their corporate data to Word documents.

Davis also prohibited Microsoft from providing technical support for infringing products sold after the injunction takes effect, or from "testing, demonstrating, or marketing the ability of the infringing and future Word products to open an XML file containing custom XML."

Davis said the injunction does not apply to versions of Word that open an XML file as plain text or which apply a transform that removes all custom XML elements—possibly paving the way for Microsoft to issue a patch that rectifies the problem.

InformationWeek has published an in-depth report on application development. Download the report here (registration required).

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Is Windows Mobile 7 in beta already?

What if Windows Mobile 7.0 wasn't as far off as some would expect? What if the operating system was already in early beta testing phase somewhere deep inside the caverns of Redmond? What if Windows Mobile 7.0 devices arrived less than a year after the first Windows Mobile 6.5 devices? Microsoft might just stand a chance then. It's a long stretch, but Hand Huang's LinkedIn profile, which says he's a Chinese Senior Engineer at Motorola, puts the words "Windows Mobile 7.0" and "Beta" right beside each other:

3. Joining Caesar product development, lead a team to do telephony feature and other applications development. Migrated relative applications from Windows Mobile 6 to Windows Mobile 7
Language: C++
Tools: VS2008, AKU, Platform Builder
Runtime Environment: Windows Mobile 7.0 (Beta)

UX Evangelist found this mention of Windows Mobile 7.0, and a ton of other ones, while scouring LinkedIn. If you're wondering, the "Caesar" reference is likely the same one as the one on Siddharth Saxena's LinkedIn profile: "Responsible for the integration of BCM4325 wlan chip on Caesar Platform (OMAP3430) on WM7 as a native host driver." In other words, it's just one of the many chips Microsoft is making sure the next version of Windows Mobile will work with.

Windows Mobile 7.0 being in beta so soon is not as farfetched as it might sound at first. The operating system has already been in development for years and last month, we noted how the Windows Mobile 7 Search and Windows Mobile 7 Browser teams were looking for internal testers.

Rumors have April 2010 pegged as the month the OS will hit RTM, and November 2009 the month Windows Mobile 7.0 gets put into testers hands. For that to be true, Windows Mobile 7.0 would have to be in some beta form by now. So what's so special about November? Unsurprisingly, it's when PDC09 is taking place. (Will attendees get a beta copy or at least some glimpse of the new mobile OS?)

At the same time though, we have a separate rumor from last month that states Microsoft will update Windows Mobile 6.5 in February 2010 (new whispers are calling it Windows Mobile 6.7), positioning it against Google's Android, while in Q4 2010 the company will unleash Windows Mobile 7 against the iPhone. April 2010 doesn't fall into Q4 2010, and although Microsoft might end up taking its sweet old time between RTM and actual devices, that's a rather long wait, even for the software giant. Nevertheless, we always love to note how Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer declared in March 2009 that Windows Mobile versions need to start coming out faster, so there's still hope.

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China Unicom officially says "ni hao" to iPhone 3GS

Apple and China Unicom have finally succeeded in reaching an agreement to bring the iPhone to China. Details are scarce at this point, but China Unicom officials revealed during a press conference on its recent financial results that it has made a three-year deal to sell the iPhone, and it should go on sale later this year. "This will provide users with brand new communication and information experience," according to a statement released by China Unicom.

The deal is the result of a long and winding process. Apple originally hoped to work out a deal with China Mobile, the country's largest carrier. However, China Mobile balked at Apple's original revenue sharing model. When Apple launched the iPhone 3G and moved to a more common subsidized model, negotiations began again with China Mobile, but supposedly broke down over operation and control of the App Store.

Meanwhile, Apple began negotiations with China Unicom, the country's second largest carrier, sometime early this year. It's believed that being second made China Unicom more willing to court Apple, and its recently built WCDMA 3G network was a perfect fit for the iPhone. (Most carriers in China use a homegrown, Chinese-specific 3G network). Apple apparently made a few concessions, including disabling the WiFi feature—which is prohibited on mobile phones by Chinese law—and adding what appears to be a China Unicom startup screen. Most recently, Apple executives traveled to China to hammer out the final details with China Unicom—today's announcement suggests those negotiations went well for both companies.

As of 9pm Beijing local time, Apple's Chinese website is now taking customer information to be notified when details of the iPhone's arrival are known (as pointed out by iPhone in China). China Unicom expects that to happen sometime in the fourth quarter of this year.

Entering the Chinese market is a major coup for Apple, as the country's roughly 700 million mobile subscribers represent the largest potential market for the iPhone in the world. If Apple is able to reach just two percent of those customers (that's Apple's current share of global mobile market), that represents 14 million more iPhone sales—a 56 percent increase over the roughly 25 million Apple has sold so far, over two years and in 80 countries.
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First Windows Mobile 6.5 phones arriving on October 6, 2009

Microsoft has announced that the first Windows phones, identified by the fact that they are running Windows Mobile 6.5, will be made available at retail stores worldwide on October 6, 2009. Microsoft is underlining that version 6.5 of its mobile operating system brings an improved user interface and that the Internet Explorer Mobile browser includes a new engine as well as built-in Adobe Flash Lite support. These new phones will also come with two new services: Microsoft My Phone, which allows customers to automatically backup and sync photos, music, contacts, and text messages from their phone to the Web, and Windows Marketplace for Mobile, a store for mobile applications that will be accessible from both the Windows phone and the Web.

Stephanie Ferguson, general manager in the Windows Mobile group, confirmed with Ars that the Marketplace for Windows Mobile will be available on the same day and that the next version of Office Mobile, which is slated for release next year, will work with the upcoming phones. This is just the beginning, though. "We have the broadest ecosystem out there and you'll be seeing a lot of announcements from us and our partners in the coming months," Ferguson told Ars.

Here are the partners around the globe that Microsoft says are committed to phones with Windows Mobile 6.5:

* North America
Mobile operators: AT&T, Bell Mobility, Sprint, TELUS, and Verizon Wireless
Phone manufacturers: HP, HTC, LG, Samsung, and Toshiba
* Europe
Mobile operators: Orange, T-Mobile, and Vodafone
Phone manufacturers: Acer, HTC, LG, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Toshiba
* Latin America
Mobile operators: Telecom Italia Mobile Brasil
Phone manufacturers: HTC, LG Electronics, and Samsung
* Asia Pacific
Mobile operators: NTT DoCoMo, SoftBank Mobile, SK Telecom, Telstra, and WILLCOM
Phone manufacturers: Acer, HTC, LG Electronics, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, and Toshiba

In February 2009, Microsoft first officially announced Windows Mobile 6.5, Microsoft My Phone, and Windows Marketplace for Mobile. In March 2009, Microsoft gave developers details on Windows Marketplace for Mobile, in July 2009 the company confirmed that the store would support Windows Mobile versions 6.0 and 6.1 by the end of 2009, and two weeks later the store started accepting application, game, and widget submissions.

Microsoft refused to give any more details on Windows Mobile 7, and so right now, Ballmer's statement from March 2009 about how the Windows Mobile team needs to speed things up remains nothing but an empty statement. With whispers of the RTM slated for April 2010 and talk of the first 7.0 handsets set to arrive in Q4 2010, Redmond needs to work much harder if it wants to keep rumors just rumors and deliver on the big Windows Mobile comeback it keeps talking about.

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Apple TV might be on the agenda for September 9 event

It's just a week before Apple will "rock and roll" us with the latest update to its iPod line. However, a sudden shortage of 40GB Apple TVs—Apple is quoting a 1-2 week wait for a new one—has Piper Jaffray analyst Gene Munster thinking an Apple TV update could make an appearance at Apple's special event.

The Apple TV, which never officially made it out of the "hobby" stage, got its last serious update almost two years ago at Macworld Expo 2008. It certainly seems plausible that an update might be in the wings. For instance, Munster made a series of Apple prognostications recently that included a revamping of iTunes Store video content, with Apple expanding its library and possibly adding some kind of monthly subscription model. Apple may also be looking to showcase its HTTP Live Streaming technology, which would be a great fit for iTunes video content. Folks would also love to be able to stream online content, such as Netflix and Hulu, directly to the device. However, such features could be easily implemented in software.

Other changes, though, would require new or revamped hardware. If Apple were to leverage HTTP Live Streaming, it would effectively eliminate the need for a large hard drive inside the device, relying instead on a smaller amount of buffer memory. Or perhaps Apple plans to move to solid state storage, eliminating the noise and heat from a mechanical drive. And, despite all objections to Blu-ray's "bag of hurt" licensing, I know there are Apple TV users wishing for an optical drive, which would eliminate the need for yet another device in the A/V stand.

While Apple has been more or less content to let the Apple TV merely function as a TV-connected gateway for iTunes content, Apple always made more money selling iPods than iTunes tracks. If the Apple TV were to transition to a more versatile media playback device with the iTunes Store serving as one potential source for content (as it does with iPods, since music can also be obtained from eMusic, Amazon MP3 Store, CDs, etc), it seems likely Apple would be able to move it beyond the "hobby" stage.

Of course, the invitation to Apple's event was headlined, "It's only rock and roll, but we like it." That doesn't really suggest anything remotely Apple TV-related to us. We also note that there is no similar shortage for the 160GB Apple TV model as there is for the 40GB one. If the whole event is just iPods and music—no Apple TV, no iTablet—don't be the least bit surprised. (Update: The Loop has sources that appear to agree with us.)


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LostWinds sequel coming to WiiWare, release date unknow

When Nintendo originally launched its downloadable WiiWare service, one of the first games to grab everyone's attention was the beautiful platformer LostWinds. And though plans for a sequel were revealed soon after the game's release, it's been a while since we've heard any news. But now developer Frontier has officially announced the next entry in the series, LostWinds: Winter of the Melodias.


The sequel will once again have players controlling the wind as they aid a young boy on his quest to destroy an evil curse, though it will add new gameplay mechanics to help keep things fresh. The biggest is the ability to switch between the summer and winter seasons, which will more than likely play a big part in the puzzle solving throughout the game. There are also new wind abilities, such as the cyclone, which can act as both an attack and a form of transportation.

Story-wise, Winter of the Melodias will take place soon after the first game, as Toku sets off in search of his missing mother, only to come across a town plagued with perpetual winter and hidden monsters.

Unfortunately, Frontier has given no indication on when we can expect to actually play the game, saying only that it's "coming soon." Stay tuned to OT, or follow the game's official website, for more details as they arise.


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Gran Turismo gets its own PSP Bundle on October 20

PlayStation Portable Entertainment Packs are like the weather in Kentucky: if you don't like what's going on right now, wait fifteen minutes and you'll get something different. Sony has announced one more Entertainment Pack that's coming on October 20 for $199.99. What will you get with that package?

• Gran Turismo—Developed exclusively for the PSP system by the internal team of designers and engineers at Polyphony Digital, Gran Turismo features more than 800 vehicle models from the world’s top manufacturers (over 4,500 total paint variations) and 35 tracks (60+ total layouts)—including famous world circuits, city courses and other environments. Seasoned Gran Turismo fans will recognize the depth of content and unparalleled visuals the series is known for, including graphics running at a stunning 60 frames per second. Additionally, a first in the Gran Turismo series is the ability to trade and share unlocked vehicles with others online via ad hoc mode, a feature that is not available in any other racing game on the PSP system. Rated “E” for everyone.
• Exclusive car download—Includes an exclusive PlayStation Network voucher to download a white version of the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 for Gran Turismo, the same car featured on the cover of the game.
• PlayStation Network movie voucher—Consumers can easily download a movie from the PlayStation Network to their PSP system. Title to be announced.
• 2GB Memory Stick PRO Duo—Leverages the PSP system’s multimedia functionality by storing photos, music, videos, and game saves.
• Music voucher—Consumers can download 10 free songs onto their PC or Mac using Sony Music Pass. Available to U.S. residents only.

Not a bad deal for $199.99, especially if you're not interested in the PSP Go. Lord knows we'll get a few more Entertainment Packs in the coming months, so we look forward to making more regional humor in the near future.
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